Page 31 of Destined for Shadows
“Do your flashing thing outside,” Melena said, pointing toward the door. “Kerbasi pissed me off last week, and I made a blood circle around the house.”
Such an act would prevent any magic—to include flashing—from being done within the circle, and it would last for at least a month. Bartol could only imagine how frustrating that must be for Lucas. “What did he do?”
“Showed up in my bedroom unannounced while Lucas and I were having an intimate moment,” Melena replied, grinding her jaw. “Apparently there was a mouse in his hut.”
Emily snickered. “It was hilarious. He was completely terrified, and his hair was flying all over the place since he flashed straight out of bed.”
Bartol couldn’t help but find the story amusing as well. The guardian was over four thousand years old and more powerful than everyone standing there combined, yet it appeared Kerbasi had the maturity of a child now that his position as head torturer had been taken from him.
“Anyway,” Melena continued the story, “we sent Sable in there to root the mouse out. She got it, but only after ransacking his whole shack. I don’t think Kerbasi will be asking us to help with his rodent problems anymore.”
Emily shook her head. “I wouldn’t bet money on it. For always acting like such a tough guy, he can be such a wimp.”
Bartol cleared his throat. “As much as I’d like to continue this riveting conversation, it is time to go.” He turned to Tormod. “And you should return to the compound as well.”
“Right,” the nerou said, handing his empty ice cream wrapper to Emily and telling her goodbye.
Melena looked at Bartol. “I just want you to know you are welcome over here anytime to take another hit at Kerbasi. The only thing I ask is that you try not to break anything. I already have to replace the furniture and windows often enough from Lucas going after him.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” After striking the guardian once, he couldn’t say her offer wasn’t tempting. He only held back now because attacking Kerbasi only proved how much he was still affected by him. Bartol would wait and think on it before acting further.
He, Cori, and Tormod headed outside. The nerou flashed out of sight as soon as he was clear of the house, but it took another minute for Bartol and Cori to prepare themselves.
“This is going to really suck,” she said, grimacing.
It would for both of them. “At least you’ve nothing left in your stomach to lose.”
“I guess that’s true.”
Taking a deep breath, he stepped behind Cori and wrapped his arms around her. Chills ran up his spine and once again his throat swelled, but the panic was more manageable than the first trip. Perhaps if he did this enough times, he could develop a tolerance to the human woman—though that could be dangerous for many reasons.
Concentrating on the living room of her cabin, he flashed them away. After a few seconds of cascading colors flying by them, they arrived. Cori immediately lurched out of his arms and ran for the kitchen. He caught sight of her through the doorway dry heaving over the sink. There was nothing Bartol could do to help her, so he decided to do a sweep outside instead. He flashed from point to point, searching for any man who might be lurking in the woods. After fifteen minutes of searching and finding nothing, he returned.
Cori sat on the couch with a wet cloth over her head, but she opened her eyes when he showed up. “Can we try to avoid doing that again?”
“Don’t you have work in the morning?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Then I will take you there.”
She shook her head, then winced. “I’ll call someone.”
“No, you will not,” he said, resolve filling him. “Your former husband has proven he plans to keep harassing you in a variety of methods. We don’t know what he might do next, but it could involve sending humans after you. I will take you anywhere you need to go, and there will be others checking in on you during the day. That’s final.”
She glared at him. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“Your friends feel just as strongly about your safety, so don’t bother arguing.” Bartol flashed away. Cori could be a reasonable woman, but she needed time to let that night’s events sink into her mind. He was certain she would be more cooperative in the morning.
